‘What do you think I should do? Scatter my sexy tales throughout or in one whole chapter?’

‘I don’t know, I’m sorry.’

She sorted in silence for another fifteen minutes, before Celine spoke again.

‘Was your mother an alcoholic? Is that why you don’t drink?’

‘I’m not going to answer that.’

‘Why not?’

‘It’s private.’

Celine raised her voice. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. What’s private in this world?’

‘Celine, please. It’s hard to concentrate when you’re shouting at me.’

‘I’m not shouting. But if I am, it’s because you’re so boring.’

Ten minutes later, Eliza stood up, hands on hips, and looked around. She was running out of space.

‘What are you plotting now, Ellen?’

‘Eliza,’ she said. Before she could say any more, there was a knock at the door. Rory, holding a tray. She invited him in.

‘Rory, how nice to see you,’ Celine said. ‘Yes, I’m being sarcastic. What is this, the third time you’ve visited me since I arrived?’ She snatched the tray. ‘I want another glass of wine in thirty minutes.’

‘Please,’ Eliza said without thinking.

Celine just swore at her.

Thirty minutes and two boxes later, another knock. Alex this time, with a single glass of wine on a silver tray.

‘Eliza, a pleasure to see you again. Working already, what a scandal. Grandmother, your wine as requested. Our finest shiraz. Not that you specified. I made an informed guess.’

‘Don’t be such a suck, Alexander. That smooth patter might work with all the waitresses you seduce but it won’t cut any ice with me.’

‘It really is always such a pleasure to be in your company. You radiate goodwill.’ Alex turned to Eliza. ‘We’re just so grateful our grandmother decided to grace us again with her presence. She once described Edinburgh as a “mouldering city dipped in grey sludge”.’

‘Yet here I am,’ Celine said. ‘The prodigal grandmother. Not that any of you seem to care about me. If my heartbroken husband didn’t keep ringing from France, begging me to come home again, I’d never get to speak to another human being.’

‘He’s begging you? There’s a man in need of urgent psychological help.’

Eliza stood up. The tension between them was becoming uncomfortable. ‘Excuse me,’ she said.

As she walked outside and shut the door, her phone beeped. Sullivan again. She played a word. He played one back, then sent a message.

Are you having fun at work?

Sure am! she lied.

Chapter Sixteen

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Next morning, Olivia delivered Eliza’s room-service breakfast. They hadn’t seen each other since the previous afternoon. Olivia had spent the evening visiting Edgar. Eliza had had a welcome early night.